Kochi ( , ),
formerly known as Cochin ( ),
is a major port city along the
Malabar Coast of India bordering the
Laccadive Sea. It is part of the
district of Ernakulam in the state of
Kerala
Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
. The city is also commonly referred to as
Ernakulam. As of 2011, the
Kochi Municipal Corporation had a population of 677,381
over an area of 94.88 km
2, and the larger
Kochi urban agglomeration had over 2.1 million inhabitants within an area of 440 km
2, making it the largest and the
most populous metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban area, urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share Industry (economics), industries, commercial areas, Transport infrastructure, transport network ...
in Kerala. Kochi city is also part of the
Greater Cochin development region and is classified as a Tier-II city by the
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
. The civic body that governs the city is the
Kochi Municipal Corporation, which was constituted in the year 1967, and the statutory bodies that oversee its development are the
Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and the
Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA).
Nicknamed the Queen of the
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea () is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean, bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel, on the northwest by Gulf of Oman and Iran, on the north by Pakistan, on the east by India, and ...
, Kochi was an important spice trading center on the west coast of India from antiquity. The port of
Muziris traded with the Romans, Persians, Arabs, and Chinese. From 1503 to 1663, the Portuguese established
Fort Kochi (
Fort Emmanuel), before it was taken over by the
Dutch in 1663. The Dutch then
ceded the area to the United Kingdom. Kochi remained under the control of the
Kingdom of Cochin
The kingdom of Cochin or the Cochin State, named after its capital in the city of Kochi (Cochin), was a kingdom in the central part of present-day Kerala state. It originated in the early part of the 12th century and continued to rule until i ...
, which became a
princely state of the
British. Today, Kochi is known as the
financial,
commercial
and industrial capital of Kerala. Kochi is the only city in the country to have a
water metro system, which has been described as the world's largest electric boat metro transportation infrastructure. Kochi also successfully conducted the test flight for Kerala's first seaplane service. The
Cochin International Airport is the first in the world to operate solely on
solar energy
Solar energy is the radiant energy from the Sun's sunlight, light and heat, which can be harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar electricity, solar thermal energy (including solar water heating) and solar architecture. It is a ...
. Kochi was one of the 28 Indian cities among the emerging 440 global cities that will contribute 50% of the world GDP by 2025, in a 2011 study done by the
McKinsey Global Institute.
In July 2018, Kochi was ranked the topmost emerging future megacity in India by global professional services firm
JLL.
Kochi's rich cultural heritage has made it a popular tourist destination among both domestic and international travellers. It has been hosting India's first art biennale, the
Kochi-Muziris Biennale, since 2012, which attracts international artists and tourists. The
Chinese fishing nets, introduced during the 14th century by the Chinese, are a symbol of the city and a popular tourist attraction in themselves. Other landmarks include
Mattanchery Palace,
Marine Drive,
Venduruthy Bridge,
Church of Saint Francis and
Mattanchery Bridge. The city ranks first in the total number of international and domestic tourist arrivals in Kerala.
The city was ranked the sixth best tourist destination in India according to a survey conducted by the
Nielsen Company on behalf of the
Outlook Traveller magazine. In October 2019, Kochi was ranked seventh in
Lonely Planet's list of top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2020. In November 2023, the British Luxury travel magazine
Condé Nast Traveller rated Kochi as one of the best places to go in Asia in 2024.
Etymology
Ancient travellers and tradesmen referred to Kochi, variously alluding to it as ''Cocym'', ''Cochym'', ''Cochin'', and ''Kochi''.
The
Cochin Jewish community called Cochin ''Kogin'' (), which is seen in the seal of the synagogue owned by the community. The
Arab
Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world.
Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
merchants called this place ''Kashi'', which is seen in the books such as ''
Tuhfat Ul Mujahideen''.
The origin of the name ''Kochi'' is thought to be the
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
word ''kochu azhi'', meaning 'small lagoon'. Accounts by Italian explorers
Nicolo Conti (15th century), and Fra Paoline in the 17th century say that it was called ''Kochchi'', named after the river connecting the
backwaters to the sea. After the arrival of the Portuguese, and later the British, the name ''Cochin'' stuck as the official appellation. The city
reverted to a closer transcription of its original
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
name, ''Kochi'', in 1996. This change in name was challenged by the city municipal corporation, but the court later dismissed the plea.
History
Muziris, a port somewhere north of Kochi (mostly identified with
Kodungallur in
Thrissur district), was the centre of Indian
spice trade for many centuries, and was known to the
Arab
Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world.
Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
s,
Yavanas (
Greeks
Greeks or Hellenes (; , ) are an ethnic group and nation native to Greece, Greek Cypriots, Cyprus, Greeks in Albania, southern Albania, Greeks in Turkey#History, Anatolia, parts of Greeks in Italy, Italy and Egyptian Greeks, Egypt, and to a l ...
and
Romans) as well as
Jews
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
, Syrians, and Chinese since
ancient times.
Kochi rose to significance as a trading centre after the port
Muziris around
Kodungallur (Cranganore) was destroyed by the massive flooding of
Periyar in 1341. The earliest documented references to Kochi occur in books written by Chinese voyager
Ma Huan during
his visit to Kochi in the 15th century as part of Admiral
Zheng He's treasure fleet.
There are also references to Kochi in accounts written by Italian traveller
Niccolò Da Conti, who visited Kochi in 1440.
[Niccolò di Conti">] The ruler of
Perumpadappu (near
Ponnani) fled to
Kodungallur in the early medieval period, when the
Zamorin of Calicut annexed
Ponnani region, after
Tirunavaya war.
[A Survey of Kerala History, A. Sreedhara Menon, DC Books, Kottayam (2007)] They later moved to Kochi and established the
Kingdom of Cochin
The kingdom of Cochin or the Cochin State, named after its capital in the city of Kochi (Cochin), was a kingdom in the central part of present-day Kerala state. It originated in the early part of the 12th century and continued to rule until i ...
.
When
Vasco Da Gama landed at
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
and the Zamorin of Calicut fought against the Portuguese with
Kunjali Marakkar, the ruler of Cochin aligned with the Portuguese.
On the
Malabar coast during the early 15th century,
Calicut and Kochi were in an intense rivalry, so the
Ming dynasty
The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...
of China decided to intervene by granting special status to Kochi and its ruler known as ''Keyili'' (可亦里) to the Chinese.
[.] Calicut had been the dominant port-city in the region, but Kochi was emerging as its main rival.
For the fifth
Ming treasure voyage, Admiral
Zheng He was instructed to confer a seal upon ''Keyili'' of Kochi and enfeoff a mountain in his kingdom as the ''Zhenguo Zhi Shan'' (鎮國之山, Mountain Which Protects the Country).
Zheng He delivered a stone tablet, inscribed with a proclamation composed by the
Yongle Emperor himself, to Kochi.
As long as Kochi remained under the protection of Ming China, the
Zamorin of Calicut was unable to invade Kochi and a military conflict was averted.
The cessation of the
Ming treasure voyages consequently had negative results for Kochi, as the Zamorin of Calicut would eventually launch an invasion against Kochi.
In the late 15th century, the Zamorin occupied Kochi and installed his representative as the king of the port-city.

According to many historians, the precursor state to
Kingdom of Kochi came into existence in the early 12th century, after the fall of the
Chera Kingdom.
The reign of the Kingdom was hereditary, and the family that ruled over the region was known as the ''
Perumpadappu Swaroopam'' in the local vernacular.
The port at
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
held superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while
Kannur,
Kollam, and Kochi, were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather.
[''The Portuguese, Indian Ocean and European Bridgeheads 1500–1800''. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. K. S. Mathew (2001). Edited by: Pius Malekandathil and T. Jamal Mohammed. Fundacoa Oriente. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR (Kerala)] The Portuguese arrived at
Kappad Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
in 1498 during the
Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery (), also known as the Age of Exploration, was part of the early modern period and overlapped with the Age of Sail. It was a period from approximately the 15th to the 17th century, during which Seamanship, seafarers fro ...
, thus opening a direct sea route from Europe to India. Portuguese navigator,
Pedro Álvares Cabral founded the first European settlement in India at Kochi in 1500.
From 1503 to 1663,
Fort Kochi (
Fort Emmanuel) was
ruled by Portugal. This Portuguese period was a harrowing time for the
Saint Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an Ethnoreligious group, ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Ker ...
,
Muslim
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
Mappilas, and the
Jews
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
, as the
Inquisition was active in
Portuguese India. The ruler of the
Kingdom of Tanur, who was a vassal to the
Zamorin of Calicut, sided with the Portuguese, against his overlord at
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
.
As a result, the
Kingdom of Tanur (''
Vettathunadu'') became one of the earliest Portuguese Colonies in India. The ruler of
Tanur also sided with
Cochin.
Many of the members of the royal family of Cochin in 16th and 17th centuries were selected from
Vettom.
However, the
Tanur forces under the king fought for the Zamorin of Calicut in the
Battle of Cochin (1504).
However, the allegiance of the
Mappila merchants in
Tanur region still stayed under the Zamorin of Calicut.
Kochi hosted the grave of
Vasco da Gama, the first European explorer to set sail for India, who was buried at
St. Francis Church until his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539.
The Portuguese rule was followed by that of the Dutch who renamed Fort Immanuel as Fort Stormsburg. In meantime, the Royal Family of Kochi relocated the capital of Kochi Kingdom to
Thrissur, leaving nominal authority over Islands of Kochi. In 1664, Fort Kochi Municipality was established by Dutch, making it the first municipality in Indian subcontinent, which got dissolved when Dutch authority got weaker in the 18th century. The remaining part of Kochi were governed by governors of Kochi Kingdom. By 1773, the
Mysore ruler
Hyder Ali extended his conquest in the
Malabar region to Kochi forcing it to become a tributary of
Mysore. The hereditary Prime Ministership of Kochi held by the
Paliath Achans ended during this period.

Meanwhile, the Dutch, fearing an outbreak of war on the
United Provinces, signed the
Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 with the United Kingdom, under which Kochi was ceded to the United Kingdom in exchange for the island of
Bangka, east of
Sumatra
Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...
. However, there are evidences of English habitation in the region even before the signing of the treaty.
In 1866,
Fort Kochi municipality was reinstalled.
Fort Kochi, which was a part of
Malabar District until 1956, was made a municipality on 1 November 1866, along with
Kannur,
Thalassery,
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
, and
Palakkad
Palakkad (), Renaming of cities in India, also known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery, is a city and a municipality in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of P ...
, according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850)
of the
British Indian Empire. Its first
Municipal Council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough cou ...
seating contest was conducted in 1883. In 1896, H.H.
Rama Varma XV, The
Maharaja
Maharaja (also spelled Maharajah or Maharaj; ; feminine: Maharani) is a royal title in Indian subcontinent, Indian subcontinent of Sanskrit origin. In modern India and Medieval India, medieval northern India, the title was equivalent to a pri ...
of Cochin, initiated local administration by forming town councils in
Mattancherry and
Ernakulam. In 1907, the Governor of the Madras Presidency, Sir
Arthur Lawley and his brother,
Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock, Governor of Madras, 1891 to 1896, left for an official tour of Cochin and
Travancore, which lasted from 25 January to 14 February. On 26 January, they were met by His Highness the Rajah of Cochin who gave a State Dinner in their honour at
Ernakulam.
[Sir Arthur Lawley's Photo Album, Empire and Commonwealth Museum][The Fourth Tour of His Excellency Sir Arthur Lawley to Cochin and Travancore – 25 January to 14 February 1907. Madras Government Press.][Letter from Lord Wenlock to his wife Constance, 29 January 1907. Hull University. Forbes Adam Archive.][Sir Arthur Lawley, Eloquent Knight Errant, Chapter 5. Ruler of the Raj. Lady Lawley Cottage (Western Australian Red Cross) 2008 iBooks] By the 1870s, the capital of Kochi Kingdom was relocated again to Kochi Suburb of
Tripunithura. In 1910, Ernakulam became the administrative capital of Kochi Kingdom with establishment of Royal Secretariat and State Durbar. The offices of the Diwan and High court were soon moved into Ernakulam.

In 1925, Kochi legislative assembly was constituted due to public pressure on the state. Towards the early 20th century, trade at the port had increased substantially, and the need to develop the port was greatly felt. Harbour engineer
Robert Bristow was brought to Kochi in 1920 under the direction of
Lord Willingdon, then the Governor of
Madras
Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...
. In a span of 21 years, he transformed Kochi as one of the safest harbours in the peninsula, where ships berthed alongside the newly reclaimed inner harbour equipped with a long array of steam cranes.
In 1947, when India gained independence from the
British colonial rule, Cochin was the first
princely state to join India willingly.
In 1949,
Travancore–Cochin state came into being with the merger of Cochin and
Travancore. The King of Travancore was the
Rajpramukh
Rajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Rajpramukhs were the appointed governors of certain Indian provinces and states.
Background
The British Indian Empire, which incl ...
of the Travancore–Cochin Union from 1949 to 1956. Travancore-Cochin, was in turn merged with the
Malabar district of the
Madras State. Finally, the
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
's
States Reorganisation Act
The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries of India's States and union territories of India, states and territories, organising them along linguistic lines.
Although additional changes to India's state boundaries ...
(1956) inaugurated a new state—Kerala—incorporating Travancore-Cochin (excluding the four southern Taluks which were merged with
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
), Malabar District, and the
taluk
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administrative ...
of
Kasargod,
South Kanara.
On 9 July 1960 the
Mattancherry council passed a resolution—which was forwarded to the government—requesting the formation of a
municipal corporation
Municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. The term can also be used to describe municipally o ...
by combining the existing municipalities of
Fort Kochi,
Mattancherry, and
Ernakulam. The government appointed a commission to study the feasibility of the suggested merger. Based on its report, the
Kerala Legislative Assembly approved the corporation's formation. On 1 November 1967, exactly eleven years since the establishment of the state of Kerala, the
Kochi Municipal Corporation came into existence. The merger leading to the establishment of the corporation, was between the
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of Ernakulam, Mattancherry and
Fort Kochi, along with that of the
Willingdon Island, four
panchayats (
Palluruthy,
Vennala,
Vyttila and
Edappally), and the small islands of
Gundu and
Ramanthuruth.
The Kochi and
Ernakulam districts formed on 1 April 1958 carving areas of the erstwhile Travancore-Kochi-Malabar regions. A major portion of the district is from the Kochi kingdom.
The city's economic growth gathered momentum after
economic reforms in India introduced by the
central government in the early 1990s. Since 2000, the
service sector has energised the city's economy. The establishment of several industrial parks based on
IT and other port based infrastructure triggered a construction and realty boom in the city. Over the years, Kochi has witnessed rapid commercialisation, and has today grown into the commercial hub of Kerala.
Geography and climate
Geography
Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India at , with a corporation limit area of . Over the years, the city has expanded considerably outside the corporation limit set in 1967, although the official city limits haven't been changed. The city straddles the backwaters, encompassing the northern end of a peninsula, several islands and a portion of the mainland. To the west lies the
Laccadive Sea, and to the east is the urbanised region in the rest of the mainland area. Much of Kochi lies at sea level, with a coastline of 48 km.
The eastern part of Kochi is mainly known as
Ernakulam, while the western part of it after the
Venduruthy Bridge is called as Western Kochi. The current metropolitan limits of Kochi include the mainland Ernakulam,
Fort Kochi, the suburbs of
Edapally,
Kalamassery,
Aluva
Aluva () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality and a northern suburb of the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is located about north of the city centre.
Aluva is known for the Aluva Sivarathri festival, Sivarathri festival, which is celebra ...
,
Perumbavoor,
Angamaly and
Kakkanad to the northeast;
Tripunithura to the southeast; and a group of islands closely scattered in the
Vembanad Lake. The state government and the GCDA have plans to include
Mala and
Kodungallur in Thrissur district.
Piravom and
Kolenchery in Ernakulam district,
Thalayolaparambu and
Vaikom
Vaikom () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality in the Kottayam district of Kerala. It is located north of the district headquarters in Kottayam and about north of the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, V ...
in Kottayam and
Cherthala in Alappuzha district within Kochi metropolitan limits. The newly formed metropolis would be put under the charge of a new authority called Kochi Metropolitan Regional Development Authority. However, ''The Hindu'' reported that the state government is yet to take any concrete steps in this regard.
Soil consists of
sediment
Sediment is a solid material that is transported to a new location where it is deposited. It occurs naturally and, through the processes of weathering and erosion, is broken down and subsequently sediment transport, transported by the action of ...
s such as
alluvium
Alluvium (, ) is loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, in an alluvial fan or beach, or in similar settings. Alluvium is also sometimes called alluvial deposit. Alluvium is ...
, teris, brown sands, etc. Hydromorphic
saline soils are also found in the areas surrounding the backwaters.
Predominant rock types found here are
Archaean-basic
dykes,
Charnockites and
Gneisses. An ecologically sensitive area, the
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary is located in the central part of the city. It has a wide range of mangrove species and is a nesting ground for a vast variety of migratory birds.
Kochi's water needs are entirely dependent on ground water and the two rivers flowing through the district viz.,
Periyar and
Muvattupuzha. Periyar serves the entire northern part of the city whereas
Muvattupuzha river under the JnNurm project covers the western part.
Climate
Under the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
, Kochi features a
tropical monsoon climate (''Am''). Kochi's proximity to the equator along with its coastal location results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range between with the record high being , and record low .
From June to September, the
south-west monsoon brings in heavy rains as Kochi lies on the windward side of the
Western Ghats. From October to December, Kochi receives lighter (yet significant) rain from the northeast monsoon, as it lies on the leeward side. Average annual rainfall is , with an annual average of 124 rainy days.
Civic administration
The city is
governed by the
Kochi Corporation, headed by a
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
. For administrative purposes, the city is divided into 74
wards,
from which the members of the corporation council are elected for five years. Earlier;
Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Ernakulam were the three Municipalities in Cochin area, which was later merged to form the Cochin Corporation. The corporation has its headquarters in Ernakulam, and zonal offices at
Fort Kochi, Mattancherry,
Palluruthy,
Edappally and
Pachalam. The general administration of the city is handled by the Personnel Department and the Council Standing committee Section. Other departments include that of
town planning, health, engineering, revenue and accounts. The corporation is also responsible for
waste disposal
Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final Waste disposal, disposal. This includes the Waste collection, collection, transport, Sewage treatment, treatm ...
and sewage management. The city produces more than 600 tons of waste per day and a large portion of waste is decomposed at
Brahmapuram Solid Waste plant into organic manure. The supply of
potable water, sourced from the
Periyar River is handled by Kerala Water Authority with support of Water works department of Kochi Corporation.
Electricity is provided by the
Kerala State Electricity Board.
The
GCDA and
GIDA are the government agencies initiating and monitoring the development of
Greater Cochin area, mainly in developing infrastructure facilities for the city.
Law and order
Kochi is the seat of
High Court of Kerala, the highest judicial body in the state of Kerala. The
Kochi City Police is headed by a
Police Commissioner, an
Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. The city is divided into five zones and each zone under a circle officer. Apart from regular law & order, the city police comprises the Traffic Police, Narcotics Cell, Riot horse, Armed Reserve Camps, District Crime Records Bureau and a
Women's Police station.
It operates 19 police stations functioning under the Home Ministry of
Government of Kerala. An
anti-corruption
Anti-corruption (or anticorruption) comprises activities that oppose or inhibit corruption. Just as corruption takes many forms, anti-corruption efforts vary in scope and in strategy. A general distinction between preventive and reactive measur ...
branch of the
Central Bureau of Investigation also operates out of the city.
CISF maintains 3 squadrons for providing security to various central and state heavy industries, airport and seaport zones. Other major central agencies are
NIA,
DRI and
Indian Customs due to the presence of major port. According to
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Kochi reported significant increase of 193.7 per cent IPC crimes in 2010 compared to 2009, and reported a crime rate of 1,897.8 compared to the 424.1 in whole Kerala. However, the city
police commissioner defended that in major crimes such as murders and kidnapping, the city registered a low crime rate even behind other cities in the state.
Politics
Kochi is part of the
Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency in
Indian Parliament. The current elected Member of Parliament representing the constituency is
Hibi Eden of
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
. The Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency elects seven members to the state Legislative Assembly, one each from
Ernakulam,
Kalamassery,
Kochi
Kochi ( , ), List of renamed Indian cities and states#Kerala, formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the Ernakulam district, district of Ernakulam in the ...
,
Paravur,
Thrikkakara,
Thrippunithura and
Vypin.
Economy
Kochi is widely referred to as the financial
and commercial
capital of Kerala.
Federal Bank, the fourth-largest
Private-sector bank in India is located in
Aluva
Aluva () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality and a northern suburb of the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is located about north of the city centre.
Aluva is known for the Aluva Sivarathri festival, Sivarathri festival, which is celebra ...
which is a suburb of Kochi. Being a major online trading centre in the country, Kochi has a newly opened
SEBI office.
Availability of electricity, fresh water, long coastline, backwaters, good banking facilities, presence of a major port, container trans-shipment terminal, harbour terminal and an international air terminal are some of the factors which accelerated the industrial growth in the city and its adjoining district.
In recent years the city has witnessed heavy investment, thus making it one of the fastest-growing
second-tier metro cities in India.
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax paid to a governing body for the sales of certain goods and services. Usually laws allow the seller to collect funds for the tax from the consumer at the point of purchase. When a tax on goods or services is paid to a govern ...
income generated in the Kochi metropolitan area contributes heavily to state revenue.
The district contributes 15.1% of the state GDP. Construction and manufacturing industries combined contributes 37% of the district's total GDP, and trade, tourism and hospitality industries together provides another 20%. Major business sectors include construction, manufacturing,
shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other Watercraft, floating vessels. In modern times, it normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation th ...
, transportation/shipping, seafood and spices exports, chemical industries, information technology (IT), tourism,
health services
Health care, or healthcare, is the improvement or maintenance of health via the preventive healthcare, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, treatment, wikt:amelioration, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other disability, physic ...
, and banking. Kochi is recognised as one of the seventeen major industrial cities of India by the World Bank Group. However, in the 2009 rankings of ease to start and operate a business, among the 17 Indian cities selected, Kochi was rated as the second most difficult city to start business and was ranked 16th, above Kolkata.
As in most of Kerala, remittances from
non-resident Indians (NRI)s is a major source of income.
Eloor, situated north of the city-centre, is the largest industrial belt in Kerala, with more than 250 factories manufacturing a range of products including chemical and
petrochemical products,
pesticide
Pesticides are substances that are used to control pests. They include herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides, and many others (see table). The most common of these are herbicides, which account for approximately 50% of all p ...
s,
rare earth elements, rubber processing chemicals,
fertilisers,
zinc and
chromium compounds, and leather products.
Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), one of the oldest fertilizers and chemical industry in Kerala is located in Kochi.
Kochi Refineries of (BPCL) at
Ambalamugal is the largest
state owned refinery in India.
Petronet India has now almost completed
Kochi LNG Terminal, for importing and storing natural gas, for energy and fueling needs. Central Government establishments like the
Coconut Development Board, the
Coir Board and the
Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) have head offices located in the city.
Kalamassery which is situated around 16.5 km from the City Center is one of the major Industrial areas. Leading factories like
FACT
A fact is a truth, true data, datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance. Standard reference works are often used to Fact-checking, check facts. Science, Scientific facts are verified by repeatable careful observation or measurement by ...
,
HMT and IT/Biotechnology park like
KINFRA Hi-Tech Park are located here. The
Cochin University of Science and Technology is located at Kalamassery.
Irimpanam is another major industrial area in Kochi. The
Seaport-Airport Road (SPAP Road) passes through this place and oil giants like
Indian Oil Corporation,
Bharat Petroleum and
Hindustan Petroleum have plants here.
Like elsewhere in Kerala, tourism is one of the major contributors of the local economy.
Ernakulam district
Ernakulam (; ISO: ''Eṟaṇākuḷaṁ'') is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala, and takes its name from the Ernakulam, eponymous city division in Kochi. ...
, in which Kochi is situated, ranks first in the total number of domestic tourists visiting Kerala,
and thus contributes to the economy of the city. The tourist enclave at
Fort Kochi and presence of several historical monuments, museums etc. as well as natural attractions like the Vembanad lake and the backwaters attract large number of tourists to the city. Presence of several leading hospitality brands have been a major source of employment for locals. The Kochi Port is one of the leading ports where international cruisers call on regularly.
The city has the first marina facility in the country,
Kochi Marina which attracts large number of yacht-totters.
Real Estate industry is also one industry which is contributing a lot to the economy of Kochi. Many players have entered the market and have developed residential properties.
Kochi is the headquarters of the
Southern Naval Command, the primary training centre of the Indian Navy.
The
Cochin Shipyard
Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) is the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India. Cochin Shipyard is part of a line of maritime-related facilities in the port-city of Kochi, in the States and union territories of India, state of Kerala, ...
, contributes to the economy of the city.
The fishing harbour at
Thoppumpady is a minor
fishing port in the state and supplies fish to local and export markets. To further tap the potential of the all-season harbour at Kochi, an international cruise terminal was also constructed.
Exports and allied activities are also important contributors to the city's economy. The
Cochin Port currently handles export and import of container cargo at its terminal at
Willingdon Island. The
International Container Transshipment Terminal operating out of
Vallarpadam, is India's largest transshipment terminal.
Cochin Port Trust also planning to build an Outer Harbour near
Puthuvype. Kochi's historical reliance on trade continues into modern times, as the city is a major exporter of spices and is home to the
International Pepper Exchange, where
black pepper
Black pepper (''Piper nigrum'') is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit (the peppercorn), which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about in diameter ...
is globally traded. The
Spices Board of India and World Spice Organisation are headquartered in Kochi.
The
IT and
ITES related industries are growing up in Kochi. Availability of cheap
bandwidth through
undersea cables and lower operational costs compared to other major cities in India, has been to its advantage. Various technology and industrial campuses including the government promoted
InfoPark,
Cochin Special Economic Zone and
KINFRA Export Promotion Industrial Park operate in the outskirts of the city. Several new industrial campuses are under construction in the suburbs of the city.
SmartCity at Kakkanad is one of the prominent projects.
Cyber City at
Kalamassery is another integrated IT township SEZ being planned in the private sector.
Kochi has an established electronics hardware industry with companies such as V-Guard Industries, OEN India Limited, FCI OEN Connectors and SFO Technologies. The Government of Kerala has announced a project to build an industrial park named Electronic City
spanning an area of , to cater to the electronic hardware industries. The private operator NeST
is building a
Special Economic Zone specifically for electronics hardware spanning an area of .
The Cochin International Airport is in the process of setting up an
aerotropolis at
Nedumbassery.
Perumbavoor is a major town in the Kochi metropolitan area. Spread over several panchayats like Rayamangalam, Vazhakulam, Asamannur, Vengola, Kottapadi, Koovappadi and many other places in the Perumbavoor municipality, the town is famous for Asia's Largest plywood industries. The plywood sector employs about two lakh people directly and about three and a half lakh indirectly in a sector with over 1,400 units.This industry includes units that manufacture not only plywood but also veneer and sawn or bandsaw. All the units operate within a radius of 15 km. The industry has started growing here over the past two decades. Initially, there were only 10 companies. But later, as more people entered the sector and set up more units, the business picked up. The industry witnessed a major change when rubber wood became available in abundance due to fluctuations in rubber prices. The plywood is also imported from foreign countries like Vietnam, Loas and China. some more Eucalyptus timber is also imported from countries like Brazil. There is no market for plywood in Kerala. Places like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of North India are the biggest markets for plywood. This industry is now the backbone of Perumbavoor's economic potential. Another unique feature of the industry is that 90 percent of the workers in the units are migrants. The crisis that hit the construction industry during the period from 2003 to 2004 led to a large influx of migrant workers into the plywood industry.
Transport
Air
The air gateway to Kochi is the
Cochin International Airport (CIAL) located at
Nedumbassery, which is about north of Kochi city, and handles both domestic and international flights. It is the first international airport in India to be built without Central Government funds
and is the world's first fully solar energy powered airport.
The Cochin airport provides direct connectivity to popular international destinations in the Middle East,
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
,
Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
and
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
and to most major Indian cities apart from tourist destinations like
Lakshadweep. With a terminal area of , and a passenger capacity of 2200 (international and domestic), it is the largest and busiest airport in the state.
It is also the fifth busiest airport in India in terms of international passenger traffic, and seventh busiest overall.
Road
Kochi is well connected to neighbouring cities and states via several highways. It is a node in the
North-South Corridor of the National Highway system. The road infrastructure in Kochi has not been able to meet the growing traffic demand and hence traffic congestion is a major problem in the city.
Kochi is served by
National Highway 66,
National Highway 544,
National Highway 966A and
National Highway 966B.
Several
state highways also connect Kochi with other parts of Kerala.
SH 15, Ettumanoor-Ernakulam Road, connects the city to
Kottayam,
Pala,
Kumily,
Changanacherry,
Pathanamthitta etc.
SH 41, Palarivattom-Thekkady Road, provides a corridor to the eastern parts of the district.
SH 63, Vypeen Pallipuram Road and
SH 66, Alappuzha – Thoppumpady road are coastal roads that serve the narrow sliver of land between the backwaters and the sea.
The main arterial roads of the city are the
Mahatma Gandhi Road and
Sahodaran Ayyappan Road in Ernakulam, constructed in 1925 & 1962 respectively which runs parallel & perpendicular to the coast and having the proposed Metro Rail connectivity. The
Seaport-Airport Road is another major road and connects the
Cochin Seaport to the
Cochin International Airport. The Infopark Expressway in
Kakkanad is connected to the Seaport-Airport Road and stretches all the way to
Infopark. Other major roads include
Chittoor Road,
Banerji Road,
Shanmugham Road,
Kochi Bypass,
Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road,
Park Avenue etc. A new ring road is proposed for Kochi city by the state government for which a project study is being currently undertaken by NATPAC.
Public transport
Road
The primary form of public transport within the city is largely dependent on privately owned bus networks. The state-run also operates its services in the city through the Thirukochi service. The major bus terminals in the city are Ernakulam Town, Ernakulam Jetty and the private bus terminal at Kaloor. An integrated transit terminal namely The
Mobility Hub at
Vytilla is under second phase of construction. The terminal acts as a hub for long-distance bus services away from the city centre, and also a converging point for different modes of public transport, namely bus, metro and ferry.
Kochi is one of the few cities to be granted the new-generation air-conditioned low-floor and non-air-conditioned semi-low-floor buses under the
JNNURM city transport development project. KSRTC and private buses operate frequent schedules to neighbouring areas of
Nedumbassery,
Perumbavoor,
Aluva
Aluva () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality and a northern suburb of the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is located about north of the city centre.
Aluva is known for the Aluva Sivarathri festival, Sivarathri festival, which is celebra ...
,
Muvattupuzha,
Kothamangalam,
Cherthala and
Poochakkal. Taxis and
auto rickshaws (called ''autos'') are available for hire throughout the day.
Development of road infrastructure not keeping pace with the increase in traffic is a major problem faced by Kochi, like most other parts of Kerala.
Rail
The city has four major railway stations –
Ernakulam Junction,
Ernakulam Town (locally known as the ''South'' and ''North'' railway stations respectively),
Aluva
Aluva () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality and a northern suburb of the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is located about north of the city centre.
Aluva is known for the Aluva Sivarathri festival, Sivarathri festival, which is celebra ...
, and
Tripunithura followed by smaller stations,
Edapally and Kalamassery. There is also the
Cochin Harbour Terminus providing rail connectivity to the southern segment of the
Port of Kochi. The terminus is currently under renovation for the suburban rail networks in the city. The main rail transport system in Kochi is operated by the
Southern Railway Zone of
Indian Railways
Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise that is organised as a departmental undertaking of the Ministry of Railways (India), Ministry of Railways of the Government of India and operates India's national railway system. , it manages the fou ...
, and comes under
Thiruvananthapuram Railway division. The
South station is one of the busiest railway stations in South India, with more than 128 scheduled train services daily. The
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography.
Etymology
T ...
station situated on the northern side of the city, caters mostly to long-distance services that bypass the
South station, and also is an additional halt station for many trains.
There is also a historic station named as
Ernakulam Terminus(station code:ERG) situated behind the
High Court. Great personalities like
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
and The
British Viceroy have visited Cochin through this old railway station. Ernakulam Terminus was the first station to serve the city but had to be abandoned in the early 1960s. Now this station operates as a goods depot of Southern Railway.
Metro
The
Kochi Metro is a
metro rapid transit system serving the city of Kochi, intended to considerably ease traffic congestion in the city and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is being constructed in three phases. The construction work of the first phase began in June 2013. The section of the line from
Aluva
Aluva () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality and a northern suburb of the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is located about north of the city centre.
Aluva is known for the Aluva Sivarathri festival, Sivarathri festival, which is celebra ...
to
Palarivattom consisting 11 stations was opened to passengers on 17 June 2017 by
Narendra Modi, the
Prime Minister of India
The prime minister of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Union Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers, despite the president of ...
.
The first phase spanning from Aluva to
Thrippunithura with 25 stations was completed in March 2024 at an estimated cost of . The second phase from
JLN Stadium to
Infopark-
Kakkanad, known as the Pink Line, is expected to be commissioned by 2026.
Water
Kochi ranks among India's major seaports, partly due to being one of the safest harbours in the Indian Ocean.
The port, administered by a statutory autonomous body known as the
Cochin Port Trust, offers facilities for
bunkering, handling cargo and passenger ships and storage accommodation. The port is a complex of three islands,
one of which is man-made.
It also operates passenger ships to
Colombo
Colombo, ( ; , ; , ), is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. The Colombo metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 within the municipal limits. It is the ...
and
Lakshadweep. Boat services are operated by
Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, the
State Water Transport Department and private firms from various
boat jetties in the city. The ''junkar'' ferry for the transshipment of vehicles and passengers between the islands are operated between Ernakulam and
Vypin, and between Vypin and Fort Kochi. However, with the construction of the
Goshree bridges (which links Kochi's islands), ferry transport has become less essential. The main boat jetties are Ernakulam Main Boat Jetty near Park Avenue, High Court Jetty in Banerjee Road, Embarkation Jetty in Willingdon Island and Fort Kochi Jetty. In April 2023, Kochi became India's first city to have a water metro project. The
Kochi Water Metro is the first water metro project in India and the first integrated water transport system of this size in Asia connects 10 islands of Kochi through a network of 15 routes that span 76 km and 38 jetties.
Demographics
Kochi has the highest population density in Kerala with 7139 people per km
2.

, Kochi had a metropolitan area population of 2,117,990. The female-to-male ratio is 1,028:1,000, significantly higher than the all-India average of 933:1,000. Kochi's literacy rate is 97.5%. The female literacy rate lags that of males by 1.1%, among the lowest such gaps in India.

Kochi's major religions are
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
,
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
and
Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
.
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
,
Judaism
Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...
,
Sikhism
Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...
and
Buddhism
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
, with smaller followings, are also practised in Kochi. Though 44% practice Hinduism, Christianity's large following (38%) makes Kochi a city with one of the largest Christian populations in India.
The majority of the city's residents are
Malayalis. However, there are significant ethnic minority communities including
Tamils
The Tamils ( ), also known by their endonym Tamilar, are a Dravidian peoples, Dravidian ethnic group who natively speak the Tamil language and trace their ancestry mainly to the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Tamil language is o ...
,
Gujaratis,
Jews
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
,
Anglo-Indians,
Sikhs
Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Sikh'' ...
and
Konkanis Malayalam is the main language of communication and medium of instruction for primary education, although a number of schools do offer English medium education. The higher education is invariably in English medium, and it is the preferred language in business circles.
Tamil and
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
are widely understood—albeit rarely spoken.
Like other fast-growing cities in the developing world, Kochi suffers from major
urbanisation problems. The city was ranked tenth among Indian cities in terms of house-cost and availability, urban household crowding and household incomes.
The government has plans to make the city slum-free by 2016.
According to the
National Crime Records Bureau, the city holds the fourth position in the number of recorded crimes in India.
In 2009, the city recorded an average crime rate of 646.3 against the national average of 181.4.
But Kochi City Police Commissioner later clarified that this anomaly was due to higher reporting rates of minor crimes in Kochi than in other Indian cities.
The State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) report gives further credence to this as it finds that Kochi has the fewest crime against women in the state of Kerala.
According to the 2011 CII/Institute of Competitiveness report on Liveability,
Kochi stands first in the state, and sixth in the country. Kochi is ranked seventh in the list of the top ten most affluent cities in India by 2009 study by Nielsen Company.
Kochi was ranked the fourth cleanest city in India in the
Swachch Bharat rankings for cities. It was selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a
smart city under Prime Minister
Narendra Modi flagship
Smart Cities Mission.
Culture
As a result of successive waves of migration over the course of several centuries, the population of the city is a mix of people from all parts of Kerala and most of India. The pan-Indian nature is highlighted by the substantial presence of various ethnic communities from different parts of the country.
Kochi has a diverse, multicultural, and secular community consisting of
Malayalis
The Malayali people (; also spelt Malayalee and sometimes known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian languages, Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala and Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India, ...
,
Konkanis,
Gujaratis,
Bengalis
Bengalis ( ), also rendered as endonym and exonym, endonym Bangalee, are an Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the Bengal region of South Asia. The current population is divi ...
,
Marathis,
Punjabis,
Tamilians,
Kannadigas,
Biharis,
Anglo Indians and a few families of Jews among other denominations. The city once had a large Jewish community, known as the ''Malabar Yehuden''—and now increasingly as
Cochin Jews—who figured prominently in Kochi's business and economic strata
and owned
several Synagogues across Kochi and nearby areas such as
Chendamangalam,
Paravur or
Mala.
Kochi was one among the seven diocese of Syrian Orthodox (
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, also known as the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church, or the Syriac Orthodox Church in India is an autonomous maphrianate of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodo ...
) in Kerala formed in 1876. The seat of the Bishop is at St George Cathedral, Karingachira. Also at Mary's Cathedral Elamkulam, seat of bishop of Simhasana churches of Jacobites is in the city. The seat of
Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
Cathedral of Kerala's first Archdiocese
Archdiocese of Verapoly and the first diocese
Diocese of Cochin are located in the city. The
Syro-Malabar Church, one of the 22 ''
sui iuris''
Eastern Catholic Churches and a part of the
Saint Thomas Christian community, has its seat at Ernakulam. Prominent places of Christian worship include the
St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam, St. Francis Assisi Roman Catholic Cathedral, Ernakulam,
Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam-Ernakulam,
Santa Cruz Basilica Roman Catholic Cathedral,
Fort Kochi,
St. Antony's Shrine at
Kaloor, St. George Forane Church,
Edappally and appropriate to its multi-ethnic composition, Kochi celebrates traditional Kerala festivals like
Onam and
Vishu along with
North Indian Hindu festivals like
Holi
Holi () is a major Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love and Spring.The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) p. 874 "Holi /'həʊli:/ noun a Hindu spring festival ...".Yudit Greenberg, Encyclopedia of Love in World ...
with great fervour. Christian and Islamic festivals like
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
,
Easter
Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...
,
Eid ul-Fitr and
Milad-e-sherif are also celebrated. A merry making fest called the
Cochin Carnival
Cochin Carnival is an entertainment event held every year in the last week of December at Fort Kochi in the city of Kochi, Kerala. This event is held mostly during the last two weeks of December and finally ends on 1 January. It is officially i ...
is celebrated at Fort Kochi during the last ten days of December.
The residents of Kochi are known as Kochiites; they are an important part of the
South Indian culture. However, the city's culture is rapidly evolving with Kochiites generally becoming more cosmopolitan in their outlook.
The people are also increasingly fashion-conscious, often deviating from the
traditional Kerala wear to western clothing.
Kochiites generally partake of
Keralite cuisine, which is generally characterised by an abundance of
coconut
The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...
and
spices
In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...
. Other
South Indian cuisines, as well as
Chinese and
North Indian cuisines are popular. Fast food culture is also very prominent.
Being a tourist hotspot, Fort Kochi have a number of restaurants that offer international cuisine, like Italian, French, Mexican etc. Being close to the ocean and the backwaters, Kochi has an abundance of seafood, which reflects in the cuisine. Cochin is also called the official food capital of Kerala with largest number of restaurants and cafeterias in Kerala that serves every kind of delicious cuisine. A service known as ''You Buy, We Cook'' is available at the waterfront of Fort Kochi, where the fresh seafood purchased from the nets is cooked as per the customers needs.
Arabian food joints that serve
Shawarma and roasted chicken are a new addition to the fast food scene in the city.
Kochi also has a number of shopping malls including
Oberon Mall, Gold Souk Grande, Bay Pride Mall, Centre Square Mall,
Abad Nucleus Mall and
LuLu Mall, which is one of the largest shopping malls in India in terms of total leasable area of .
Various shopping malls are expected to open in the city in the near future including
Forum Thomsun Mall.
Kochi is the official food capital of Kerala because of the highest number of restaurants and the varieties of foods available. Kochi serves every type of food available in Kerala. Its very famous for varieties of non-vegetarian food. Kochi also has the most
five star hotels in the state. These include international brands like
Crowne Plaza,
Marriott International,
Grand Hyatt,
Sheraton,
Le Méridien,
Radisson Blu,
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn by IHG is a chain of hotels based in Atlanta, Georgia and a brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts. The chain was founded in 1952 by Kemmons Wilson (1913–2003), who opened the first location in Memphis, Tennessee. The chain was a division ...
,
Ramada,
Ibis,
Taj Malabar, The Gateway etc.
Kochi was home to some of the most influential figures in
Malayalam literature, including
Changampuzha Krishna Pillai,
Kesari Balakrishna Pillai,
G. Sankara Kurup
G. Sankara Kurup, (3 June 1901 – 2 February 1978) also referred to as Mahakavi G (The Great Poet G), was an Indian poet, essayist and literary critic of Malayalam literature. Known as one of the greats of Malayalam poetry, he was the first r ...
, and
Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon. Prominent social reformers such as
Sahodaran Ayyappan and
Pandit Karuppan also are from Kochi. The
Kochi International Book Festival is an annual event.
The Maharajas of Kochi (then Cochin) were scholars who knew the epics and encouraged the arts. The paintings at the
Hill Palace and the
Dutch Palace are testimony to their love for arts.
Kochiites are known for their enthusiasm in sports, especially
football and
cricket
Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...
.
The
Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi is one of the largest stadiums in India with floodlights for Cricket and Football matches.
The
Regional Sports Centre is an important centre of sporting activity in the city.
Kochi is reportedly the sixth best city in India according to the livability index of 2011.
Healthcare

With many advanced tertiary/quaternary care facilities, Kochi has one of the best healthcare facilities in India. It is the prime destination for people seeking advanced healthcare facilities from across Kerala.
In recent times, it has attracted many patients from India, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the United States looking for relatively inexpensive advanced medical care. Kochi is the only city from
Kerala
Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
that have carried out successful heart transplantations.
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre,
Sunrise Hospital,
Specialist Hospital,
Medical Trust Hospital, PVS Memorial Hospital,
Renai medicity,
Lakeshore Hospital,
Lisie Hospital,
Aster Medcity,
Rajagiri Institute of Medical Sciences are some of the advanced tertiary/quaternary healthcare facilities in Kochi. Other reputed institutions in the city include Ernakulam Medical Centre,
KIMS Hospital, Gautham Hospital, Lourdes Hospital and
Saraf Hospital. Some of the reputed fertility related treatment centres in India – like Vijaya Hospital, Bourn Hall Clinic and CIMAR – are located in Kochi.
General Hospital, Ernakulam and
Government Medical College, Ernakulam are the notable medical institutions in the government sector in Kochi.
In August 2019, a home daycare program in the district, Arike has started for extending the service of the home palliative care. Nurses who have undergone training in palliative care will be reaching out to patients at home every day on two-wheelers. The service will be available to those who have registered with the General Hospital's home palliative care programme.
Education
Secondary education
The pattern of primary education is essentially the same all over the state. There are government owned schools and government aided schools, which are affiliated to the
Kerala State Education Board
Kerala Board of Public Examination is the state level education board of Kerala. It is administered by the Government of Kerala. The board is responsible for conducting various examinations on the basis of a unified law. Its headquarters are lo ...
. A few privately owned schools are also affiliated to the system. Most of the schools owned by private organisations or individuals are affiliated to the
Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE).
Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) have some schools affiliated to them as well. The state education board offers both Malayalam and English medium instruction, while the other boards offer English medium alone. There are a few schools that follow international curricula, such as IB and IGCSE.
There 34 government schools, 67 private aided schools and 31 unaided schools affiliated to the Kerala State Education Board in the city and suburbs.
There are 62 CBSE Schools, 2 IGCSE and 9 ICSE Schools as well.
The notable schools in the government sector are
Sree Rama Varma High School, Edappally High School, Government School-Kochi and Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, Ernakulam. There are
Kendriya Vidyalaya,
Chinmaya Mission and
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan run several quasi-private charter schools within the city limits, as well as in the suburbs. There are several private schools (both aided & unaided0 that are owned by secular and religious trusts which are of particular renown, such as:
St. Albert's HSS, Ernakulam, St. Teresa's CGHSS, St. Mary's CGHSS Ernakulam, St. Antony's CGHSS,
Model Technical Higher Secondary School, Kaloor The Delta Study, Rajagiri Public School, Campion School,
Assisi Vidyaniketan,
Cochin Refineries School, Gregorian Public School, Greets Public School, Toc-H Public School,
Navy Children School, Global Public School,
Choice School,
Vidyodaya School, Mar Thoma Public School, Nava Nirman Public School and St. Pauls International School, Kalamassery, The Charter School Kochi.
Higher education
The
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is a major university named after the city. Most of the colleges in Kochi offering tertiary education are affiliated either with the
Mahatma Gandhi University or with
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram. Kochi has one of the campuses of the
Indian Maritime University at
Willingdon Island.
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in
Kalady is a research-oriented university located at the outskirts. Other national educational institutes include the
Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training, the
National University of Advanced Legal Studies, the
National Institute of Oceanography and the
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.
Kochi has some of the leading B-Schools in the region. The
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) has set up its first satellite campus at Athulya building in
InfoPark, Kochi. Cochin University's
School of Management Studies (SMS) is the first and oldest managerial education institution in South India.
SCMS Cochin is one of the emerging B-Schools in the country. Another major B-School
XIME is opening a new campus in Kochi. Other leading managerial institutions include
Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi Business School, Amrita School of Business,
Albertian Institute of Management and Toc-H B school.
The city and outskirts are home to four medical schools—
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre at Ponekkara, Cochin Medical College at
Kalamassery, Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, and M.O.S.C. Medical College,
Kolenchery. Some of the prestigious general colleges are
Maharaja's College,
St. Albert's College,
St. Teresa's College,
Sacred Hearts College, Bharata Matha College, Aquina's College,
De Paul Institute of Science & Technology (DIST) and
Cochin College. The major Engineering and Technology colleges in the city are
School of Engineering CUSAT,
SCMS School of Engineering and Technology at
Kalamassery,
Model Engineering College,
Rajagiri School of Engineering & Technology and FISAT (Federal Institute of Science & Technology).
Being the seat of the
High Court of Kerala, several top legal education institutes are here. The
Government Law College-Ernakulam is one of the oldest law schools in Kerala. The ''School of Legal Studies (SLS)'',
CUSAT is one of the leading graduate, post-graduate, and research institutes in the country. The
National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) is located in the city, which is a premier law university in India and the only Law college listed in CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) in Kerala.
Social service organisations
Some of the main orphanages and rehabilitation shelters in Cochin City are
Palluruthy Relief Settlement in Palluruthy Veli, Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan, Don Bosco Big Boys, Crescent Girls Orphanage,
YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It has nearly 90,000 staff, some 920,000 volunteers and 12,000 branches w ...
Boys Home, Bal Bhavan, Valsalya Bhavan.
Palluruthy Relief Settlement is under
Kochi Municipal Corporation and managed in association with Peoples Council for Social Justice. There are about 300 inmates and many of them are mentally ill.
The night shelter for women run by Kochi Municipal Corporation near
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus stand provides free and safe accommodation. Peoples Council for Social Justice was found in 1985 under the patronage of Justice
V. R. Krishna Iyer with the aim to work for human rights protection, free legal aid and to strive for social justice.
The orphanages for children under
Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan Cochi are Sneha Bhavan Annexe, SnehaBhavan, Valsalya Bhavan, Don Bosco and Bosco Nilayam. The
Childline India project in Cochin is taken in collaboration with Don Bosco. Children in distress and in need of help can contact in '1098' (toll free number). Sneha Bhavan Annexe is the first point of contact with children and children can stay as a safe night shelter. Sneha Bhavan is a home for the children from the streets and for those from unhealthy and risky situations. The Valsalya Bhavan centre is solely for the girls who are rescued from the streets. Runaways, street children, children of sex workers, abused children and child labourers all live here. Along with primary and high school education at a local school, the centre provides shelter, food, clothing and educational support.
There are also people doing independent social services within the city. The Italian Sister Fabiola conducts a home at
Fort Kochi known as "Ashwasa Bhavan", for young orphaned children. Br. Judson run his own "Mobile Bath Service" in his vehicle for the abandoned.
Media

Major Malayalam newspapers published in Kochi include ''
Malayala Manorama'', ''
Mathrubhumi'', ''
Siraj Daily'', ''
Madhyamam'', ''
Deshabhimani'', ''
Deepika'', ''
Kerala Kaumudi'', ''
Janmabhumi'', etc. Popular English newspapers include ''
The Hindu
''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the Triplicane Six, becoming a daily in 1889. It is one of the India ...
'', ''
The New Indian Express
''The New Indian Express'' is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper published by the Chennai-based Express Publications. It was founded in 1932 as ''The Indian Express'', under the ownership of Chennai-based P. Varadarajulu Naidu ...
'', ''
The Times of India
''The Times of India'' (''TOI'') is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by the Times Group. It is the List of newspapers in India by circulation, third-largest newspaper in India by circulation an ...
'', ''
The Pioneer'' and ''
The Deccan Chronicle''. A number of evening papers are also published from the city.
Newspapers in other regional languages like Hindi,
Kannada
Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of the population in all neighbouring states. It has 44 million native speakers, and is additionally a ...
, Tamil and
Telugu are also available.
A number of financial publications are also published in the city. These include ''
The Economic Times'', ''
Business Line'', ''
The Business Standard'' and ''
The Financial Express''.
Prominent magazines and religious publications like the ''
Sathyadeepam'', ''
The Week'' and ''
Vanitha'' are also published from the city.
Kochi houses several leading Malayalam television channels like ''
Asianet Plus'', ''
Flowers'', ''
Jeevan TV'', ''
Mazhavil Manorama'', ''
Kairali We'', ''
Manorama News'' and ''
Reporter TV'' as well as major news bureaus of ''
Asianet'', ''
Kairali TV'', ''
Amrita TV'' and ''
Doordarshan''.
Prasar Bharati maintains its earth station and broadcasting centre in Kakkanad, Kochi. Satellite television services are available through
DD Direct+,
Dish TV,
Airtel digital TV,
Reliance DTH,
Sun Direct DTH and
Tata Sky. FM radio channels broadcast from Kochi are
Rainbow FM (AIR) 101.9 MHz,
AIR Kochi 102.3 MHz,
Club FM 94.3 MHz,
Radio Mango 91.9 MHz,
Red FM 93.5 MHz,
Radio Mirchi 104.0 MHz.
Kochi is considered to be the hub of the vibrant
Malayalam movie industry,
especially contemporary Malayalam movies. The rise of Kochi to the centre stage of the entertainment industry occurred coinciding with the economic boom of the last couple of decades. Many movies are shot in Kochi every year.
Kochi also has a host of state-of-the-art production and post-production facilities.
Due to these reasons, major section of film personalities including of actors, technical experts and other related workers reside in Kochi.
There are over 50
cinema halls that screen movies in Malayalam, Tamil, English and Hindi. The city hosts Kerala's first cine multiplex, at the
Oberon Mall with four screens. Gold Souk Grande also has a cine multiplex operated by Q cinemas with four screens.
PVR with 9 screens is another national multiplex brand that has presence in Kochi and is based out of
LuLu International Shopping Mall.
Cinepolis at Centre Square Mall with 11 screens is the first international megaplex brand in the state. 16 more multiplex screens are expected in the city in the near future.
The district has the largest number of telephone connections in Kerala.
Telephony
Telephony ( ) is the field of technology involving the development, application, and deployment of telecommunications services for the purpose of electronic transmission of voice, fax, or data, between distant parties. The history of telephony is ...
services are provided by various private sector players like
Aircel,
Airtel,
Idea Cellular,
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Public Limited Company () is a British Multinational company, multinational telecommunications company. Its registered office and global headquarters are in Newbury, Berkshire, England. It predominantly operates Service (economic ...
,
Reliance Infocomm,
Tata Docomo,
Jio,
Tata Indicom and the state owned
BSNL. All the private sector telecom companies have their headquarters for Kerala circle located in Kochi.
Sports
Like elsewhere in Kerala,
football is arguably the most passionate sport among the locals. In the
Indian Super League
The Indian Super League (ISL) is a professional association football league in India and the highest level of the Indian football league system. Administered by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner Football Sport ...
(ISL),
Kerala Blasters represents the city as well as the state of Kerala. The Blasters are one of the most widely supported clubs in the country as well as the fifth most followed football club from
Asia
Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
in the social media. Kochi was also home to the now defunct football clubs
FC Kochin and
Chirag United Kerala. FC Kochin is considered as the first fully professional football club from India. Kochi was one of the six cities to host the
2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in India.
India's fourth largest stadium and third largest cricket stadium, the
Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium located in Kaloor, is a major facility for football and cricket. Kochi was home to the now defunct
Indian Premier League cricket team,
Kochi Tuskers Kerala which won franchise rights to play in the 2011 edition of IPL.
The Maharaja's Stadium located on MG Road in the heart of the city, is the major athletic facility in the state with synthetic tracks and turf grass as per international standards. The Ambedkar stadium, maintained by
GCDA, was developed exclusively for football with funds from
Government of Kerala and
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (), more commonly known by its acronym FIFA ( ), is the international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded on 21 May 1904 to o ...
.
Spanish club
Real Madrid has proposed to set up a football school in Kochi.
The
Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex at
Kadavanthra is a major indoor stadium, mainly used for conducting badminton, tennis and basketball tournaments. The 25 m X 10 m swimming pool
at the centre is one of the larger water sports facility in the state, where regular swimming competitions and coaching are conducted.
The FACT Grounds at Udyogamandal, Sacred Heart's College Grounds, HMT Grounds at
Kalamassery and St. Albert's College Grounds are the other major training facilities for various games like volleyball, badminton, cricket etc.
Kochi has two
golf courses in the city and one in the suburbs. The oldest golf club is located at Bolgatty Palace, constructed in 1903, which is a nine-hole facility run by Cochin Golf Club society.
The Cochin Golf and Country Club, located near Cochin Airport, operated by CIAL, is Kerala's first 18-hole golf course, with a playing area of over 7,200
yards. The first phase of the all-weather golf course, comprising nine holes, was opened in May 2010 for members and public. The expansion to an 18-hole course is progressing, which is scheduled to be open in September 2012.
Being surrounded by water bodies, the city is ideal for
Yachting. The Kerala Yachting Association and
the Cochin Yacht Club
are located in the city. Both organisations conduct regular yachting tournaments. Kochi was the only Indian city chosen for stopover during the
2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race.
Navy
The Southern Naval Command, one of the three main formations of the
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy (IN) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Navy, maritime and Amphibious warfare, amphibious branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of the Naval Staff (India), Chief ...
, has its headquarters in Kochi at
INS ''Venduruthy''. It is commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief. The Southern Naval Command consists of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), a training squadron, training establishments and bases, and land forces and survey ships. It has a naval air station and a ship repair yard.
Indian Navy Day is also celebrated here. It is a week-long public event showcasing warships, planes, helicopters, and other naval equipment.
The
Cochin Shipyard
Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) is the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India. Cochin Shipyard is part of a line of maritime-related facilities in the port-city of Kochi, in the States and union territories of India, state of Kerala, ...
Limited is the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India.
In 2020, it finished building the first indigenous
aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying and recovering carrier-based aircraft, shipborne aircraft. Typically it is the ...
for the Indian Navy.
Sister cities
Kochi is
twinned with:
*
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...
, United States
*
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park ( ) is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, California, San Mateo County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, California, Eas ...
, United States
*
Pyatigorsk, Russia
Notable people
*
Elijah ha-Adeni
*
Soubin Shahir
*
Radha Vinod Raju
See also
*
Neighbourhoods of Kochi
*
List of tallest buildings in Kochi
*
Portuguese Cochin
*
Cochin Jews
*
Largest Indian cities by GDP
References
Further reading
*
Ma Huan: Ying Yai Sheng Lan, ''The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores'', translated by J.V.G. Mills, 1970 Hakluyt Society, reprint 1997, White Lotus Press, .
* Plunkett, R, Cannon, T, Davis, P, Greenway, P & Harding, P (2001), Lonely Planet South India, Lonely Planet, .
* Manorama Yearbook 2003 (English Edition), .
* Robert Charles Bristow. ''Cochin Saga'', Paico Pub. House; 2d ed. edition (1967), .
* ''Unemployment in Kerala at the turn of the 20th century Insights from the CDS gulf migration studies'' by K. C. Zachariah, S. Irudaya Rajan.
* ''Kochi Rajyacharithram'' by KP Padmanabha Menon. P (1914)
* "Akhilavijnanakosam". ''Malayalam Encyclopedia''. D C Books Multimedia Series.
External links
GeoHack – Kochi
* (Government of Kerala)
* (Government of India)
The Story of India: South India Cochin, BBC
{{Authority control
Metropolitan cities in India
Cities and towns in Ernakulam district
Former capital cities in India
Former Portuguese colonies
Historic Jewish communities
Populated coastal places in India
Port cities in India
Smart cities in India